{"id":26335,"date":"2026-03-29T08:07:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T08:07:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/andy-weir-paramount-star-trek\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T08:07:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T08:07:54","slug":"andy-weir-paramount-star-trek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/andy-weir-paramount-star-trek\/","title":{"rendered":"Andy Weir Says Paramount Rejected His Star Trek Pitch: &#8216;Their Shows Are Shit&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p>On the Critical Drinker podcast last week, Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir said Paramount declined his pitch for a Star Trek series and sharply criticized much of the streamer\u2019s recent Trek output. He told hosts he met with the franchise\u2019s showrunners over Zoom and singled out a handful of newer series for praise while dismissing others. The exchange comes as Paramount+ manages recent cancellations and ongoing talks with franchise lead Alex Kurtzman about his production deal. The remarks have intensified discussion about the creative direction of Star Trek on streaming platforms.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Andy Weir said he pitched a Star Trek series to Paramount and held Zoom meetings with the showrunners and executive producer Alex Kurtzman.<\/li>\n<li>On the podcast, Weir praised Strange New Worlds and Lower Decks but called several recent Trek series &#8220;shit&#8221; and said he was unhappy with much of the modern output.<\/li>\n<li>Paramount+ has confirmed Star Trek: Starfleet Academy will end after its already-shot second season; Strange New Worlds reportedly has two more years planned.<\/li>\n<li>There are currently no other Star Trek projects in active production, marking an unusual pause for the franchise on Paramount+.<\/li>\n<li>Alex Kurtzman\u2019s deal with CBS Studios runs through the end of 2026; Paramount+ is reportedly in talks with Kurtzman and his Secret Hideout company about the future of the partnership.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Star Trek has been a core property for Paramount and Paramount+ since the platform launched its revival slate. Over recent years the franchise has expanded to multiple series ranging from the large-scale serialized dramas to animated and comedic spinoffs, producing mixed reactions among longtime fans and new viewers alike. The stewardship of the TV revival has been largely associated with producer Alex Kurtzman and his Secret Hideout company, which has overseen a significant portion of the new content.<\/p>\n<p>Tensions over tone and continuity have been a recurring theme: some fans and critics have welcomed shows that revisit classic Star Trek themes, while others have been critical of creative choices and perceived deviations from past franchise norms. Paramount+\u2019s pipeline recently shifted when Starfleet Academy was pulled after a second season that had already finished shooting, and reports indicate a temporary lull in active Trek productions. Those programming moves have amplified questions about what direction the studio will take next.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event<\/h2>\n<p>The episode of the Critical Drinker podcast began with host Will Jordan noting how Project Hail Mary\u2019s box office success felt refreshing to audiences who grew up with Star Trek. Weir responded by reflecting on his Gen X upbringing\u2014citing reruns of the original series and later The Next Generation as formative science-fiction experiences. That context led into his assessment of the contemporary Trek slate.<\/p>\n<p>During the conversation, another participant identified only as Marsden suggested some newer Trek projects be left off the public record, a comment Weir echoed with a mix of amusement and blunt critique. Weir said he met via Zoom with the franchise showrunners and Kurtzman to pitch his idea, but Paramount declined to move forward. He added that while Kurtzman is a pleasant person, he felt the current shows were subpar.<\/p>\n<p>Weir singled out Strange New Worlds as a title he enjoyed and described Lower Decks as entertaining, but he characterized several other recent entries as poor fits for the franchise. His language was explicit and uncompromising\u2014remarks that quickly circulated through entertainment trades and fan channels. The Hollywood Reporter sought comment from Paramount; at the time of writing, the studio had not provided a public reply to Weir\u2019s comments.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Weir\u2019s public dismissal of multiple recent Trek series amplifies an ongoing debate about the franchise\u2019s creative direction. When a high-profile novelist publicly criticizes a studio\u2019s stewardship of an iconic property, it can reverberate among fans, talent, and executives\u2014potentially influencing recruitment, pitch dynamics, and internal strategy. Artists and writers who might pitch ideas to Paramount may now weigh perceived openness to original voices versus the studio\u2019s established creative approach.<\/p>\n<p>The reported production pause\u2014no new Trek projects actively filming\u2014creates a window for Paramount+ to reassess priorities. It also raises commercial questions: the franchise remains a marquee IP that can drive subscribers, but inconsistent reception to recent shows risks diluting brand equity. Negotiations with Kurtzman over his deal through 2026 will be a critical indicator of whether the studio intends continuity or a course correction.<\/p>\n<p>For the franchise\u2019s global audience, the mix of renewals, cancellations and public disputes could complicate expectations about canon and continuity. Suggestions from some commentators to &#8220;de-canonize&#8221; material from Enterprise onward would represent a bold reframing of decades of storytelling\u2014one that could alienate some viewers while offering a fresh slate for others. Any formal change to canon would be consequential both narratively and for stakeholders who have invested in those series.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Series<\/th>\n<th>Current Status<\/th>\n<th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Strange New Worlds<\/td>\n<td>Active<\/td>\n<td>Reportedly has two more years planned on Paramount+<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Starfleet Academy<\/td>\n<td>Canceled<\/td>\n<td>Second season filmed; will be the final season to air<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Other Trek projects<\/td>\n<td>None in production<\/td>\n<td>Unusual lull in franchise production activity<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table summarizes known production statuses reported by industry outlets. While the franchise still carries committed seasons, the broader dearth of active projects marks an operational shift; studios sometimes pause development to consolidate creative strategy or renegotiate leadership deals, such as Kurtzman\u2019s arrangement that runs through 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cAll the others, they can go. I pitched a Star Trek show to Paramount&#8230;they didn\u2019t accept my pitch so, you know, fuck \u2019em.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Andy Weir, author<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This blunt assessment framed Weir\u2019s stance: a combination of personal preference for certain shows and direct frustration with Paramount\u2019s reception of his proposal.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cHow refreshing the box office hit Project Hail Mary has been,\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Will Jordan, Critical Drinker (podcast host)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The podcast host used Weir\u2019s film success to contrast the perceived scarcity of contemporary space-adventure storytelling compared with classic Treks.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThe joy comes from adventuring across boundaries of time, space, and the humanly possible,\u201d<\/p>\n<p><cite>Alex Kurtzman, Noga Landau &#038; Gaia Violo (open letter, franchise EPs)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The franchise\u2019s leadership pushed back publicly when the Starfleet Academy cancellation was reported, emphasizing Star Trek\u2019s aspirational themes and the creative values they say the franchise embodies.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Paramount+, Alex Kurtzman, and &#8220;canon&#8221;<\/summary>\n<p>Paramount+ is the streaming home for Star Trek\u2019s recent revival, and Alex Kurtzman\u2019s Secret Hideout has been a central production partner. In franchise terms, &#8220;canon&#8221; refers to works the studio treats as official continuity; altering canon can mean reinterpreting or disregarding past stories to enable new creative directions. Deals for lead producers like Kurtzman typically include multi-year commitments and influence which pitches are greenlit, how series interconnect, and the overall tone of the shared universe.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether Paramount will formally &#8220;de-canonize&#8221; parts of the franchise beyond Enterprise is speculative and has not been announced.<\/li>\n<li>The outcome of ongoing talks with Alex Kurtzman and Secret Hideout about extending or reshaping his deal is unconfirmed; public reporting describes talks but no finalized agreement.<\/li>\n<li>No official statement from Paramount confirming Weir\u2019s account of the pitch meetings has been released at the time of writing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Andy Weir\u2019s comments highlight fault lines within Star Trek fandom and at Paramount+ over how the franchise should evolve on television. His high-profile critique and the revelation that a major publisher turned down his pitch put a spotlight on decision-making at the studio and the role of gatekeepers in shaping flagship IP.<\/p>\n<p>For viewers and industry observers, the immediate effect will likely be intensified scrutiny of remaining seasons and leadership decisions\u2014particularly negotiations with Kurtzman through 2026. Whether this moment leads to substantive course correction, narrative rebooting, or a return to steady, familiar production depends on internal negotiations and how Paramount+ evaluates the franchise\u2019s commercial and cultural value moving forward.<\/p>\n<h3>Sources<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/tv\/tv-news\/project-hail-mary-author-andy-weir-paramount-star-trek-1236549532\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Hollywood Reporter<\/a> (Entertainment trade \/ industry reporting)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On the Critical Drinker podcast last week, Project Hail Mary author Andy Weir said Paramount declined his pitch for a Star Trek series and sharply criticized much of the streamer\u2019s recent Trek output. He told hosts he met with the franchise\u2019s showrunners over Zoom and singled out a handful of newer series for praise while &#8230; <a title=\"Andy Weir Says Paramount Rejected His Star Trek Pitch: &#8216;Their Shows Are Shit&#8217;\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/andy-weir-paramount-star-trek\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Andy Weir Says Paramount Rejected His Star Trek Pitch: &#8216;Their Shows Are Shit&#8217;\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26331,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Andy Weir: Paramount Passed on My Star Trek Pitch \u2014 Signal Daily","rank_math_description":"Andy Weir says Paramount declined his Star Trek pitch and criticized much of the streamer\u2019s recent Trek slate. We examine the podcast remarks, cancellations and Kurtzman\u2019s role.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Andy Weir,Paramount,Star Trek,Alex Kurtzman,Strange New Worlds","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26335","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26335"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26335\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26331"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26335"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26335"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26335"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}